By Cheta Enyoghasi
Controversy has trailed a committee set up by Ebonyi State to oversee N1.3bn youth empowerment for 1,300 youths across 13 local government areas.
Edumnews gathered that Governor Francis Nwifuru decided to empower 1,300 youths with one million naira each for not participating in the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests against President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
On Wednesday, the State Executive Council appointed a nine-member committee to oversee the selection process, with Deputy Governor Princess Patricia Obila serving as Chairman, Rt. Hon. Moses Odunwa, Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly; Sen. Ken Eze, who represents Ebonyi Central Constituency in the Senate; and Mr. Emmanuel Uguru, who represents Abakaliki/Izzi Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Other members includes State APC Chairman Stanley Okoro Emegha, Commissioner for Human Capital Development Mrs. Ann Aligwe, Commissioner for Inter-Party Okorie Philip Ogbonnaya, President of the FON Youth Movement Comrade Chinedu Emerike, and Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs Comrade Joshua Nwafor.
But the Committee stirs controversy as a result of questionable characters of its members.
Speaking with residents of the state, Udoka Ede argued that the APC chairman’s involvement in the committee will not yield desired results, citing the looted audio hawkers’ fund as a political issue.
He also suggested that the Deputy Governor should not be involved in the committee, and the Governor should step down the committee to local government levels.
He said: “This is not a party affair, hence the APC chairman shouldn’t have any business with the committee unless it’s merely for political compensation like the looted, misappropriated and unaccounted audio hawkers’ fund.
“The Deputy Governor should also not be seen in the committee because she was not able to make public her findings on the looted hawkers’ fund as the chairman of the investigative committee.
“Lastly, the Governor should step down the committee to local government levels, using upright, unbiased and independent people.”
Ifeanyi Chukwu, a constitutional lawyer, criticized the appointment of legislators into the committee in, arguing it violates the separation of powers in a democracy.
He questioned why a serving Senator should be a committee member, arguing that it is an abuse of democracy.
“How do you explain that a serving Senator representing a senatorial district is made a committee member constituted by the State Governor?” He queried.
According to him, the appointment of three legislators was against the separation of powers in a democracy.
“We practice democracy and in democracy, there is separation of powers with the Legislators acting as a check to the Executive.
“Making the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly a member of a committee to be chaired by the Deputy Governor of the state is an abuse of democracy,” he stated.
Ogbonna Francisca, a resident also argued that distributing money to youths won’t solve the unemployment problem in the state, and suggested that the governor should focus on building industries and creating jobs for the people.
In his remarks, the Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Leo Oketa, guaranteed transparency in the selection of youths for the empowerment, noting that the committee will work hard to defend their inclusion and make insightful comments.
“The Governor constituted a committee for the selection of youths to benefit from the N1m empowerment to ensure it is not left in the hands of one particular state ministry.
“The committee will definitely work sincerely to justify their inclusion in this delicate assignment.
“But more important than any comment about them, will be an insightful suggestion on how they can get it right”. he said
